Ionia Conservation District tapped into the lion's share of $2.3 million recently awarded by the state's Dam Management Grant Program.

The $994,975 allotted for Lyons Dam removal was awarded to "allow the Village of Lyons to remove the structure addressing structure deficiencies and ultimately will allow for rehabilitation of the site," according to the DNR Website. "Removal of the dam will reconnect 54 miles of river below and dam and 16 miles of the Grand River and its tributaries above the dam. Further removal will allow for passage of natural woody debris and sediment as well as for small boats, canoes and kayaks."

The DNR Website describes Lyons Dam as a "13-foot-high concrete covered rock filled structure that is owned by the Village of Lyons on the Grand River in Ionia County. The Lyons Dam is considered a high hazard dam and has been determined to be in poor structural shape by a licensed engineer. The Village of Lyons has sought funding for numerous years for repair or removal and has been unsuccessful in obtaining funds."

In addition to the Lyons Dam initiative, five other Michigan dam removal or repair projects are getting a share of the grant. Funding will support the second phase of the Boardman River dam removal project in Grand Traverse County; the Kalamazoo River and Otsego Township dam repair project; the Shiawassee Town Dam removal in Shiawassee County; the Vassar dam removal project involving the city of Vassar; and the Sunday Lake Dam spillway gate replacement project by the city of Wakefield in Gogebic County.

The program was started last year to support Gov. Rick Snyder's infrastructure efforts.